Target is taking on 70,000 more workers for the holiday season

If you're looking to pick up some new – or extra – work this holiday season, check Target.

The Minneapolis-based retailer is taking on an extra 70,000 seasonal workers to help deal with the holiday shopping crush in stores, plus another 7,500 workers for distribution and fulfillment centers, it announced on Monday.

If split evenly between the stores, it would mean each one of Target's 1,800 stores will take on around 39 employees.

Those interested will get their first chance to apply in October, when stores will be hosting "dedicated hiring events."

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At these events, managers will be "meeting with thousands of prospective candidates in just 48 hours," so it should give applicants an idea of what it's like to work on Black Friday.

The additional staff being taken on at fulfillment and distribution centers comes on the back of problems Target experienced with its supply chain in recent years – failing to ensure shelves are stocked has been cited as one of the significant challenges the retailer faces.

These workers will be charged with "helping to replenish the stores while fulfilling the mega-high volume of online orders we're expecting during the busiest season of the year" – which last year saw 446 million Target shoppers make purchases in the space of three months.

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"We can’t wait to welcome new seasonal team members on board to help us make the holidays extra bright for our guests," chief stores officer Jana Potts said in the news release.

But existing workers will also be given a chance to fill some of the roles by getting "first dibs on any extra holiday hours they want."

New hires meanwhile will get "plenty of training time ... before the season officially kicks off."

Minnesota-based Target Corp. is trimming back on its seasonal hires for the holidays. KARE 11 reports that the retail giant will hire anywhere from 80,000 to 90,000 seasonal workers this year, down from 92,000 in 2011. Walmart and Kohl's on the other hand, are increasing their seasonal work forces.